Aside from the label it is very hard to tell them apart. The internals appear identical. The glass on the JAN series is perhaps 1-2mm taller than the 5 Star.

The GE 5 Star 5670 (any color) came off a slightly different line. The 5 Star line up are tubes that were specifically recommended for mission critical uses such as avionics, medical and broadcasting. Very tough, high tolerances, and easily able to deal with many on-off cycles. The quality control from inception to final product was also amazing in that better than 97% of the finished tubes made to market while only 3% made it to dumpster!

Thanks man, This is very confusing. Now there are those who can't tell the difference, those who tell some, not worth the price difference, and those who think the white 5 star blows away the Jan for smoothness, lushness layered and refined sound and is better than the WE396a. He rates the 5 star a 7 of 10 and the jan a 3 of 10. A long time tube dealer says he never heard of a tripple mica 5 star and now I see there might be a 2 and a 3 mica 5 star version. Just shoot me now. Thanks, Tweaker

Yo MH, It was a Taoist priest, but at least you think the tube decision is important. The JAN5670W lacks, smoothness, refinement, instrament separation and should be easily beaten. I am prefering the Sylvania 2c51 black plate at the moment, especially since I put MG 847 carbon conductive paste on the pins. Im looking for the smoothness , naturalness of the harmonics of the WE396a with the bass and dynamics of, shall we say the GE. The GE JAN5670W is over rated. Listen to how harsh loud fast passages are, compared to your (precious) WE396a.Do you think people are rolling $25 to $100 tubes for no reason, Hah?? Hah?? Tweaker

Again, your mileage may vary. I have used both the JAN and 5 Star line-up as front ends in a pair of Bottlehead Paramounts driving TJ mesh plate 300B's. There has been virtually zero difference as far as my ears can tell.

One of the hallmarks of the GE 5670 series was being ultra linear no matter the JAN or 5 Star designation. The 5 Star rating was for durability in mission critical applications. As far as I can tell the guts were identical. Never have seen a triple mica version.

Get the JAN set and don't look back. It will outlast you and you can then obsess over something else equally important... like did you get a Shinto priest to bless your soon to be retired Grace F9E Ruby cartridge???